The Things Spring Brings

I didn't think Spring would ever arrive in SLC, but it finally did.  It brought so many wonderful new things to my life.  The best thing, was a new little grand-daughter.

This is Hayden Elise.  She was born on Saturday, May 11 at 8:00 pm

Hayden is my son's first child and #6 for us.  She is just perfect, and has brought so much joy to our family.  Their little family will be moving into their first house in a few weeks, so I guess their little family has officially begun.  I hope there will be many more to come.

Our tulips were beautiful this year, although they came and went too quickly, as the weather warmed up really fast.

This beautiful tree was in our neighbor's yard.  Talk about "popcorn popping".

Our flowers and vegetables are all planted, and although it has been rainy this past week, I am so happy the warmer weather is finally here.

My "Trompe l'Oeil" was nearly finished, but I ran out of yarn.  It still needs sleeves.

A quick call to Knit Unique in Logan, UT provided the extra skien needed to complete the project.  I am loving the outcome of this Melissa Leapman design from her book:  "Knitting the Perfect Fit".  It is aptly named, and it does produce the "perfect fit".

These are the sleeves, which should be completed soon.  I hope to have the sweater finished for my next post.  I can't wait to knit other designs from Melissa's book.  The designs all create such an allusion to body curves.

Check out our other little babies.  This is Oreo, before and after his new spring haircut.  It is amazing that he isn't even the same color after shearing.

This is Butterscotch and Spud . . . . before

. . . and Butterscotch, Spud, Melvin and Apple Jack . . . .after.  They are such skinny l ittle animals without all their fluff.  Their fluff is on it's way to The Crooked Fence Mill to be made into soft, fluffy yarn.  We are getting better grade yarn, now that we have acquired some better quality animals.  I can't wait to see how it turns out this year.  I think there will be some give-aways in the future.

Grandchild #5, Alivia Grace, had her first birthday this past week too.  I've knit her a darling little dress and bolero jacket, but she hasn't received it yet, so I'll have to show that  next time too.  Go here:  Alivia's first cake to see her eating her first birthday cake.  She eats just like me!

Happy Birthday - "Angel Baby"!

Finally . . . Finished Projects

I'm sad to say that I did not complete all of my gift-giving knitting projects this year.  My daughter ended up recieving two ball of Scrumptious yarn, in a rich, dark purple.  She was disgusted, saying, "Well, I guess I have to knit my own sweater".  That was not the case, but it did take me until now, to turn those balls of yarn into this:

Another Laura Leaves Tank.  This is my favorite design to knit, and it is a good thing.  Because everyone in my family wants one.

Knit from my favorite yarn, Fyberspates Scrumptious, a blend of silk and merino wool.  It nearly flies off the needles all by itself.  My daughter will be passing through our town next week, on her way to her in-laws' house in California.  It is finished just in time for their family pictures.

The leaves, knit only on the front, are a great lace accent.  They really pop out, when a light color is worn underneath.  I hope she likes it, because she will be knitting her own next time.

My two little grandsons have quickly outgrown the little church vests I knit for them last Easter.  So, I have been frantically knitting them new ones.

Using the same pattern:  "Easton".  This is the smaller of the two.  One of the boys requested vertical stripes.  I wasn't really sure that would look good, so I compromised with this design on the chest.

The larger vest is currently on my needles.  As soon as they are both finished, I'll post some pictures of the boys wearing them.

I had hoped to use traveling ribbed stitches to shape my next design.  I've seen this done, but have never actually knit anything in this way.  Therefore, I decided to try one of Melissa Leapman's designs, to learn the process.

This is "Trompe l'Oeil" from "Knitting the Perfect Fit: Essential Fully Fashioned Shaping Techniques for Designer Results", by Melissa Leapman.  It is a wonderfully written pattern, and a book filled with designs I just cannot resist. 

Once I have completed this top and designed my own garment with traveling rib stitches, I hope to return to this book of designs, and knit many more.

You can see how the ribbing is manipulated to match the suttle curves of the body, and how it creates a slimming elusion.  This is the back piece.  When I have it completed, I'll post all the particulars about the wonderful yarn I've chosen for this project.  The lighting doesn't do the color justice.   It is a deep golden rust, rather than pumpkin orange.

It is shearing time at our house, and all of our fuzzy alpacas will soon be getting a Spring haircut.  I'll try to get some before and after pictures of them for you to see.  I'm trying to schedule a fun and informative trip to the mill for all of my knitting & non-knitting friends.  I'll post some pictures of this adventure too.  In the meantime, I better get back to my knitting.  Happy Knitting . . . . . . .

Crocheted Needle Case

The winners of my recent give-away have been located, and the prizes have been delivered.  Thanks to all of my "Followers".  Watch for my next give-away . . . . coming soon.

Our monthly "Knit Night" was held last night.  Like always, we had a great evening together.  There was lots of laughter, and a little knitting going on.

Check out this needle case.  It was crocheted by one of my Knit Night Members.  It is just perfect for holding all of her crochet hooks, pencil and sewing needles.  She is also looking for the perfect sized scissors to include.

The case is stiffened with sheet plastic, cut to size.  It is similar to the interchangeable knitting needle case I purchased for about $45.  Why didn't I think of this?  Wouldn't it be appropriate to hold all of your knitting tools in a knitted case?

It has the perfect shape and closes with a button & loop.  She is an avid crocheter, and does such beautiful work.  I'm hoping to get her to cross-over to knitting soon.  She is currently crocheting a darling little yellow dress for her youngest daughter.  A bright sunny yellow will be so cute for the summer.  I hope to have pictures of the finished project for posting when she is finished.

Like always, I have 4 separate projects on the needles and need to get at least one of them finished up.  I am knitting a "Laura Leaves Tank" for my daughter, two little sweater vests for my grandsons, a ribbed T-shirt sweater for me, and I have a newly written pattern, which needs some test knitting.  Hopefully a few upcoming camping/hunting trips and a lazy week at Lake Powell, will give me some time to get these things finished. 

Get signed up as a Blog Follower, so you'll be ready for my next give-away.  Happy knitting . . . . .

WINNER ???

I am having difficulty contacting "CONHAM", the latest winner of a blog give-away.  Conham is the winner of a pair of hand-knit, felted slippers in Women's US size L (8 - 10).  Please contact me with your mailing information, so I can get them off to you as soon as possible.  Thanks for being a blog "Follower"!

Give-Away WINNERS

Thanks to all of my blog "Followers".  Yesterday, a drawing of all "Followers" was held, and we have two WINNERS!

The Winners are:

1.  conham - winner of 1 pair of hand-knit & felted slippers, Women's US size L (8 - 10)
2.  artsy-fartsy mama - winner of 1 pair of hand-knit & felted slippers, Child's US size L (10 - 12)

Here they are.  Winners, please contact me with your mailing information, so I can get them sent off to you asap. 

These are so fun to knit.  I hope you both enjoy! . . . and thanks to all of my "Follower".  This blog is so fun for me, and I love hearing all of your comments.  There will be more "give-aways" soon, so please sign up for your chance to win.

I'm Back . . . . . . .

Spent last week in Hawaii for a well needed rest.

I spent the week with my husband, sister and brother-in-law.  As always, it was beautiful there.  If you look really hard, you can see the "Royal Hawaiin Hotel" in the background.  This is my favorite place on Oahu.  As well as being the first hotel on Waikiki, each room contains an old Hawaiin quilt, hung on the wall.  A fun thing to see, if you are a quilt lover like me.

One of three lighthouses on the island.

The beach where "From Here to Eternity" was filmed.

A beautiful view.

. . . and although the humidity did a number on our hair . . . we still really enjoyed ourselves.

This is "Turtle Bay".  A fun place to visit, where over 100 turtles live.

This turtle was catching some rays.

We went sailed along the coast of Waikiki, where we enjoyed the view of Honolulu and saw many whales coming out of the water.

Guess who even got to steer the boat for a bit.

This was just before I caught a huge tuna . . . . . . not really, but it was fun to pretend.

Check out our rental car . . . "who ya gonna call?" 

Not really . . . our actual rental car was a boat, but it did hold all of our luggage in the trunk, and my brother-in-law could park a tank on a dime.  Thank heavens, because he was the driver.

We went to a beach luau.  The food was good and we met some really nice people from Orange County, California.

Like always . . . the overnight flights were a drag, and we spent some extended time in airports, but if that is the worst of it.  I feel rather lucky.  I did take some knitting along, but spent most of my flight-time sleeping.  Now that I've had a nice rest, I'm hoping to get some knitting flying off the old needles soon.

Remember . . . a drawing of all "Followers" will be held on March 31.  Two pairs of felted slippers will be given away in Women's size L and Children's size L.  Get signed up as a "Follower" to win.  Happy Easter . . . . & knitting.

A Princess Birthday

It's a "GIVE-AWAY" . . . this is your chance to win a pair of hand-knit, felted slippers.  On March 31 a drawing of all "FOLLOWERS" will be held.  Two winners will each receive a pair of slippers, in either women's size L or child's size L.  They will both be two-tone, as pictured below.  Get signed up as a "follower" now, for a chance to win.

This past weekend, we celebrated the birthdays of 3 princesses in my life.  Three princess cakes were baked for the occassion.

The princess dressed as "Snow White", was lucky and was given tickets to the Disney Princess on Ice show in SLC.  Early on Saturday morning, she and her parents boarded TRAX (SLC mass transit train) and headed out to see the show.  She had a fabulous time watching the show and eating her $12 snow cone.  Because of this event, she received her birthday gift from me the night before . . .

. . . a suitcase filled with Disney Princess dresses.

"Belle" from Beauty and the Beast;

"Aurora" from Sleeping Beauty;

"Tiana" from The Princess and the Frog;

"Cinderella"; and

"Arielle" from The Little Mermaid.  She identified each immediately, and was so excited about them.  She had a really hard time deciding which to wear to the ice show.

Cinerella was her final choice.

Here she is in Cinderella's lego carriage.

Each dress was sewn flat, with shoulder straps and elastic added last, so they can be adjusted as she grows.  I wanted them to be flexible, so all her little friends, sister and cousins could wear them too.

The "Steve" sweater is finally finished.  He loves it, and just in time for warmer weather.   Oh well, you can't win them all. This one took me 8 weeks to design and knit.  A long time of looking and feeling the same yarn.  I've yet to write the pattern, as I'm still stumbling over how to explain the chain-like cables.

Knit on US 6 & 8 needles from Knitpicks - Andes del Campo in Mystery Heather (100% Highland Wool).  I'm really happy with the outcome, and I'm sure he'll be wearing it for years and years to come.  I'll probably end up hiding it, when it is old and tattered, and he just cannot bare to part with it.

I've started a new project from Melissa Leapman's "Knitting the Perfect Fit".  I've chosen:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/trompe-loeil.  This fitted sweater is all shaped with traveling ribbed stitches.  It is flattering to all body-types, and seems to camoflauge a lot of body flaws.  I'm looking forward to knitting someone else's design, and learning some techniques in the process.  I should have some pictures of the sweater in-process, for my next post.

I'll also be dragging some Scrumptious yarn along, on a much-needed vacation.  I look forward to a week of knitting and people-watching on the beach.  Happy knitting . . . . . .